RG3 is in the game — EA Sports cover boy

RG3 is in the game — EA Sports cover boy

Waco Tribune Herald/Jerry Larson - Heisman Trophy-winner and former Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III poses for photographs on the Baylor campus Monday in Waco for the EA Sports’ ‘NCAA Football 13’ video game to be released in July.

After putting up video game-like performances in a record-shattering final season at Baylor, the school's first Heisman Trophy winner was announced as the new cover boy for EA Sports' "NCAA Football 13" video game Monday on the Waco campus.

"It's cool. You don't expect anything, but to get this is an honor," Griffin said before posing for the game's cover at Fountain Mall. "Not everybody gets to be on the cover officially. … But I'm officially on the cover of 'NCAA Football 13' and I'm proud of it."

The game will be released July 10, with the former Copperas Cove standout sharing the cover with one of eight former Heisman winners to be determined by fan vote beginning March 12. It was the first time the pre-eminent college football video game franchise had an on-site photo shoot at a school's campus.

A day after wowing NFL personnel and draft pundits alike with his speed and charisma at the NFL combine in Indianapolis, Griffin was back where it all began, celebrating the experience with the fanbase that has seen him rise from college football's youngest starting quarterback to Heisman winner.

Although he is headed back to Arizona to continue his training under quarterback guru Terry Shea, RG3 will return to Baylor for his Pro Day on March 21, when reportedly more than 100 NFL representatives are expected to attend.

"The hard work is over now, now it's all about refining," Griffin said.

At the combine, RG3 was officially clocked at 4.41 in the 40-yard dash to lead all quarterbacks, marking the second-fastest time for a quarterback behind the 4.33 posted by Michael Vick in 2001. Griffin also led all QBs with vertical jump of 39 inches, but fell 4 inches shy of expected No. 1 overall pick Andrew Luck's 10-4 broad jump.

"I feel like I went there and did what I planned to do in the interviews and on the field," Griffin said.

RG3's performance came after a negative build-up that included many around the NFL questioning everything from his actual height - which was validated at 6-foot-2 3/8 - to his speed and how well he could translate Baylor's spread offense to the more traditional pro-style offense rampant in the NFL.

"They're going to try and find things; they're always going to say, 'Oh, this can't be true. There's no way he's got all this,'" Griffin said, "but I'm looking forward to whatever the next thing is going to be and I'll shoot that down as well."

Despite his eye-popping time in the 40, which all-but solidified his position as one of the top two overall players taken in April's NFL draft, Griffin is questioning the final number after he said he was given a different time on the field Sunday.

"I was told on the field that it was 4.35 officially. They told me it was faster than what the screen had posted," Griffin said. "If that happens to be the right time, that's nothing to be mad about, 4.41 is a great time. But you want to make sure the right time is put up there."

While he may be disputing some things from the combine, Griffin was happy with his overall experience, especially the interview portion. Among the teams he spoke with included Indianapolis - owner of the No. 1 pick - Miami, Kansas City, Minnesota, San Francisco and Washington.

Griffin owns or shares 54 school records, including finishing his Baylor career as the program's passing leader with 10,366 yards, 78 touchdowns and only 17 interceptions. RG3's 2,254 rushing yards and 33 scores on the ground are also records for a Bears' quarterback.